The “Car Boot Sale” season will soon be upon us here. Although ‘Car Boot’ translates in some parts of the world to ‘trunk’, I’m not sure that Auto Trunk Sale means anything! Let’s say flea market.
The three antique planes shown here were my last really exciting find, although I’ve since had my share of sash cramps and other bits and pieces. They were on the grass in the dog target area, which was a good sign, and they had a decent coating of dust and surface rust. After an (outwardly half hearted) examination, I asked the price.
“£12.00 any good?”
“What about all three?”
“Yes, £12.00 for all three” What’s that- $US24.00?
I didn’t even insult him with a lower bid! Unusual nowadays that the specialist dealers hadn’t got there as the traders unloaded.
It wasn’t until I got home that I realised exactly what they were. I show them here after some light cleaning and a lashing of linseed oil.
This is a Badger Plane, believed by some to have been named after a C19 Londen Planemaker, Charles Badger. It’s a cross between a panel-raising plane and a panel plane. At first I’d thought it was just a bench plane until I noticed that the cutting iron is skewed and emerges at the side of the stock. Thus it can be used right into the corner of a rabbet. The iron, at least is by Mathieson.
The second one is a ’moving fillister’ - a rabbet plane with an adjustable fence. This appears to be quite a nice model. The undersole is adjusted by screws running in brass-lined slots & this one has three whereas I think two is more commonplace. The depth stop is adjusted by the brass thumbscrew at the top. Notice that the iron is preceded by a scriber that scores the edge of the rabbet.
Third one is a compass plane, i.e. it has a convex sole. The brass thumbscrew causes a steel insert in the toe of the plane to rise and fall. That seems to provide a little adjustment to the curvature that can be planed.
The next time (I live in hope), I’ll produce some ‘before’ pictures.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems
18 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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14156 posts in 1054 days
posted 613 days ago
have you pinched yourself to make sure you weren’t dreaming?
Great find!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
YorkshireStewart
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781 posts in 794 days
posted 613 days ago
I enjoy that sort of dream Debbie. This season I’m dreaming of a #1 Stanley plane for $10.00!
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems
teenagewoodworker
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2480 posts in 661 days
posted 613 days ago
wow that is a nice find. i wish they had good things like that in big cities. where i live there are almost no flea markets and they best tools you can get in stores are pretty bad too. well nice find and i hope you enjoy it.
Daren Nelson
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533 posts in 799 days
posted 613 days ago
I like those alot !! Excellent find.
-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/
sidestepmcgee
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136 posts in 618 days
posted 613 days ago
very nice.i think i’ll go check my flea market this weekend.
-- eric post, tallahassee FL
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 856 days
posted 613 days ago
Nifty, nifty, Stewart.
-- Thos. Angle
Scott Bryan
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20600 posts in 715 days
posted 613 days ago
Very nice find Stewart. I really enjoy seeing these bargains.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
GaryK
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9521 posts in 881 days
posted 613 days ago
Some people have all the luck! Great find.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Kevin
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294 posts in 851 days
posted 613 days ago
Those are a great looking find. Good luck on the #1 too. That would really be a find.
-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas
Douglas Bordner
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3421 posts in 957 days
posted 613 days ago
“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” Even Robert Browning might have been more prudent then to wish for a #1 at 10£, let along 10 USD. But who am I to burst your bubble, Stewart. It appears that you have achieved a superlative bargain. What’s next, a Spiers infill for a quid?
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Blake
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2752 posts in 767 days
posted 613 days ago
Great find! I love that little compass plane.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 959 days
posted 613 days ago
Stewart you are a lucky man. Can’t find deals like that at the big flea markets anymore. But if you hit the smaller yard sales you can find some treasures at price you can afford. They look really nice.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
rikkor
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11335 posts in 768 days
posted 613 days ago
Wow, great catch Stewart. They don’t look like they have been abused at all.
TomFran
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2513 posts in 887 days
posted 613 days ago
Great find, Stewart! You were in the right place at the right time. Those are some beautiful planes.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
John Gray
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1751 posts in 779 days
posted 613 days ago
GREAT FIND!!!! Waiting for the flea markets to open here in Illinois…....
-- Only the Shadow knows....................
Grumpy
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14914 posts in 744 days
posted 612 days ago
Good to see there are still treasures out there Stew.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
WayneC
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5968 posts in 990 days
posted 542 days ago
Incredible finds. Did I mention I want to come to the UK to go tool hunting. : ^ )
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
YorkshireStewart
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781 posts in 794 days
posted 542 days ago
Oh yes! A warm welcome awaits! A tip is to always look under the tables. That’s where the rust is!
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems